Menendez, Kean even in poll

An early look at a possible 2012 U.S. Senate race has incumbent Bob Menendez and state Senate Republican leader Tom Kean Jr. in a statistical dead heat. Kean leads 39-38 percent with 17 percent undecided in Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind poll. It also showed 29 percent of voters have a "very" or "somewhat" favorable opinion of Menendez while 25 percent have a very or somewhat unfavorable view of him. Twenty eight percent have a favorable view of Kean and 11 percent have negative views. The poll asked about state Sen. Mike Doherty of Warren County too. Only 20 percent said they have heard of him and he trails Menendez, 27-40 percent. Last time around Kean led Menendez early but Menendez was able to tie Kean to an unpopular president. This time there is a Democrat in the White House.